KUALA LUMPUR – Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said today pointed out that the apology from Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor does not mean he will be spared from police investigations and possible legal action.
The minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (law and institutional reform) said whoever raised issues that could divide the people, disrupt public order, and disrespect the royal institution were against the law and no one would be spared legal action by issuing an apology.
Sanusi had earlier said he had apologised to Selangor ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah over his statement regarding the appointment of the Selangor menteri besar.
Sanusi, who is also the Perikatan Nasional election director, said he had sent an explanation letter (warkah) to the Selangor sultan on what he truly meant in his speech.
In a post on Facebook, he claimed that his speech had been manipulated by Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional.
“Police must be given the freedom to investigate anyone who uses 3R-related issues that violate any law without the intervention of any party,” Azalina said in a Facebook post today.
She said that though freedom of speech was the constitutional right of every Malaysian citizen under Article 10(1)(a) of the federal constitution, such a right is subject to Article 10(2) to ensure that peace and order is guaranteed.
Police had earlier confirmed opening an investigation paper on Sanusi regarding a statement under the Sedition Act 1948 and the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
Through a video clip that went viral, believed to have been recorded when giving a ceramah, Sanusi apparently belittled the appointment of Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari as the Selangor menteri besar by the Selangor sultan. – The Vibes, July 15, 2023
